296 J. W. Palihin— 



lying in all directions and in different stages of preservation, some 

 pieces looking like opal, while others form soft carbonized masses. 

 All the trunks which occur here, both solitary and in groups, are 

 embedded in the rock. 



A superficial study of the material collected has led to the 

 recognition of ten to twelve species of different trees. The dominant 

 forest species were broad-leaved dicotyledons ; the largest trunks are 

 certainly of this type. Conifers also occur, some with their structure 

 very well preserved ; among these are represented Pityoxylon, 

 Cujpressinoxylon, and Araucarioxylon. 



It is clear, judging by the impressions of plants, that the flora 

 was different from that which exists to-day. The impressions are 

 mostly those of evergreen plants, bushes, grammeous plants and 

 ferns, which represent the remains of a tropical and sub-tropical 

 flora buried in lava cinders. Among this material are immense 

 cordiform leaves, no doubt allied to Paulownia, the modern repre- 

 sentatives of which occur in Japan and China. Similar Paulownia 

 leaves have been recorded by Laurent from the lower Pliocene 

 volcanic deposits of central France ; our fossils differ from the 

 western European forms chiefly in the tnmcated (not rounded) 

 lamina of the leaves ; the younger specimens exhibit marked denta- 

 tions. In view of this difference it is appropriate to regard the 

 Caucasus form as distinct from the European type and to name it 

 Pauloivnia caucasica. Several species of laurel are common, and 

 leaves of similar type are widely distributed in rocks of this age in 

 southern Europe. These forms have disappeared from Europe, 

 except Laurus nobilis, which occurs in Mediterranean countries and 

 in the Pontish province of Caucasia. The laurels are represented 

 by Laurus jJTimigaria Ung., a type characteristic of the lower and 

 middle Miocene of Europe, and related to the existing Laurus 

 canariensis Sm., also Laurus Lalagas Ung. Camphor-trees are also 

 re]Dresented by many specinaens of Cinnamomum Scheuchzeri Heer, 

 a species which was spread over Europe in the Miocene period and 

 occurs in the Sarmat beds of northern Caucasus.^ Lastly, Oreoda/phne 

 Heeri Gaudin occupies an important place in this flora ; it is very 

 characteristic of European Pliocene floras and is abundant in the 

 Upper Miocene. 



The fig-tree family is represented by two forms, Ficus populina 

 Heer, very characteristic of the Miocene of Europe, Western 

 Siberia, and the region of the Aral Sea, and Ficiis multinervis Heer, 

 characteristic of the middle Miocene of Europe. The beech has 

 not been found here. Oaks are represented by Quercus fiircinervis 

 (Rosra.) Ung., a characteristic forna in the Pliocene and Miocene of 

 Europe and South Russia. The Anonaceae are represented by 

 Anona elliptica Ung., a form recorded from the Miocene of southern 

 Europe. The Heath family is represented by Andromeda protogaea 

 Ung., widely spread m Miocene and Oligocene Europe. The 

 1 J. Palibin, Verliandl K. Buss. Min. Gen., Bd. sliii, Lief, i, 1906. 



